Selective distributing apparatus



June 16, 1953 H. L. GLAZE, ETAL 2,642,177

SELECTIVE DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed May 23. 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 1HERBERT L. 61 42: ROBERT C. BELTZ BY THEIR ATTORNEYS.

HA RR/SQE c H, F05 Til? & HA RR/s June 16, 1953 GLAZE r 2,642,177

SELECTIVE DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS 7Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed May 25, 1949ROBERT C. 541.72 BY THE/R ATTORNEYS. HF) RIF/5, nscH, Fos TR& HARRIS 6yJune 1953 H. GLAZE ETAL 2,642,177

I SELECTIVE DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed May 25, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 3/NVNTOR5. HERBERT L. GLHZE ROBE/PT C. BELTZ 6) THE/R ATTORNEYS- June 16,1953 H. GLAZE ETAL SELECTIVE DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed May 23, 1949 INVENTORS. HERBERT L. GLAZE ROBERT C. BELTz BY THE/l?'HTTORNEKS.

\/A mag/E04, F s TEI? & HA RAP/s Y a s June 16, 1953 H. L. GLAZE ETALSELECTIVE DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 23, 1949 m VR u 2 mm s A T a H. R L L N 0 55a W2 M T R 0 n m u E Ym H m v R m 7 N nmm 3 WW ow 5 8 NS #3 8 ms 5 B\& Q 0: Q G w J Qt L. I a, k w. T: 8 Ni M,L MV 9s 3 mm 3 Q 3 6E 68 k R ma J VFW. -.l w V b Q w $6 m Wm Q Q Q3 anJune 16, 1953 H. 1.. GLAZE ETAL SELECTIVE DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS FiledMay 23, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Q; 3 an I 555 I I I W 4% livvlslv'roks.HERBERT L.G1 Az ROBERT C. 551.72

- BY THE/R HTTO/?N K5.

HA RR/ ECH, F 05 TE R. & HmPR/s 5y and illustrating a portion of acoolingconveyor which forms part of the installation;

Fig. is an enlarged perspective view of a cool ing tray forming part ofthe cooling conveyor,

parts of the tray being broken awayito reveal the structure thereof moreclearly;

chain 42 being trained around a sprocket 41 fixedly connected to thesprocket 46 and around sprockets 48 mounted on certain of the shafts 35and fixedly connected to the corresponding sprockets 35 thereon. Thechain 42 is also trained around idling sprockets 49. The motor 39 drivesthe cooling conveyor 29 in the direction indicated by the arrows 50.

The cooling conveyor 29 includes a plurality of receptacles or trays 53'which are spaced along and supported by the cooling conveyor chains 33,the cooling trays 53 being rotatable relative to the chains abouthorizontal axes between generally upright positions and forwardlyinclined dumping or unloading positions. Preferably,

when the cooling trays are in their generally up- Fig. 6 is a sideelevational view of the selective" distributing apparatus of theinvention;

Fig. "I is a sectional view taken-along the broken line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the brokenline 8-8 of Fig. '7;

Fig. 9 is an enlargement, partially in section, of a portion of Fig. 6;

Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary sectional views respectively takenalongthe broken lines llll0 and I l-l| ofFig.9;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along thebroken line l2--l2 of Fig. 3 and illustrating a control means of theinvention;

Fig. 13 is an'elevational view of the control means shown in Fig. 12andis taken in the direction of the arrows l3 in Fig. 12; and,

' Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic view of an electrical circuit forming partof the apparatus.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the numeraldesignates an oven which may be of the traveling type, in which case theloaves of bread being baked move continuously therethrough in thedirection of the arrows 2|. The baked loaves emerging from the oven 20may be removed therefrom in -any suitable manner, as by an automaticoven unloader 22 which is disclosed in application'Ser-ial No. 49,764,filed September 17, 1948 in the names of Hiram E. Temple and George E.Tench and assigned to the same assignee as the present appli cation.

As is conventional, an air-conditioned cooling cabinet or chamber 23 islocated above the oven 20. In the particular construction illustrated,the cooling chamber 23 includes a section 24 which extends downwardlyinto a pit 25, the latter extending beneath the oven 'unloader' 22."

Referring particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawings, located within thecoolingchamber 23 is an endless cooling conveyor 29 having a'pluralityof horizontal runs 30, a pair of vertical runs 3| ex tending downwardlythrough the section 24 of the chamber into the pit 25, and a pair ofhorizontal runs'32 extending beneath the oven unloader 22.

Asbest shown in Fig. 4, the cooling conveyor 29' comprises a pair ofspaced, parallel chains 33 the horizontal runsof which are supported byrails 34, the chains being'trained around suitably located'sprockets 35on shafts 36. 'As best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the coolingconveyor 29 is driven by a motor 39 through chains 40, 4| and '42 thechain 40 being trained around a sprocket 43 which is driven by the motorand around a sprocket 44, the chain 4| being trained around a sprocket45 fixedly connected to the sprocket 44 and around a sprocket 46,and'the right positions, they are inclined rearwardly slightly toeliminate any possibility of the loaves of bread sliding therefrom. Asbest shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the cooling trays 53 are pivotedfor rotation about horizontal axes by means of a pair of horizontallyspaced, axially aligned spindles 5.4 on each tray, the spindles beingcarried by bearings 55 on the cooling conveyor chains 33. The horizontalaxes of rotation provided by the pairs of spindles 54 are so locatedrelative to "the centers of gravity of the cooling trays 53 that thetraysarenormally maintained in generally upright,.i. e., slightlyrearwardly inclined, positions by the action of gravity.

Referring particularly to Fig. 5 of the drawings, the cooling trays 53may be of any desired construction and may, for example, include a lowerwall 56, a rear wall 51 and a pair of end walls 58, the lattercarryingthe spindles 54. The forward side of each tray 53 is open to permitloaves of bread carried thereby to slide there from when it is'rotatedinto its dumping or unloading position, i. e., when it is rotated in theclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 5 of the drawings. In order topermit air circulation about the loaves of bread carried by each tray 53to insure uniform cooling thereof, the lower and rear walls 56 and 51are preferably ribbed, as shown.

Referring again to Fig. 3 of the drawings, the cooling trays '53 passingbeneath the oven unloader 22 are adapted to receive loaves of breadremoved from the oven 20 thereby and to move such loaves continuouslythrough the cooling chamber 23 to a distributing apparatus of theinvention which is located beneath the lower most horizontal run 30 inthe cooling chamber and which is indicated generally by the numeral 60.As will be discussed in detail hereinafter, the apparatus 60 is adaptedto selectively distribute the loaves of bread carried by the coolingtrays 53 among cross conveyors BI, 62 and 63 which, as best shown inFig. 1 of the drawings, respectively lead to slicing and wrapping units64, 65 and 66, three such units being shown for purposes ofillustration. As best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, each of the crossconveyors includes a chute 6'! a portion '68 of which is hinged so thatit may be rotated out of alignment by means of a handle 69 to permit theloaves of bread to drop onto a conveyor leading to a sorting table In inthe event that it is necessary to terminate flow of bread to one of theslicing and wrapping units suddenly for some reason. For example, it maybe necessary to terminate the flow Of bread to one of the slicing andwrapping units in the event of a jam in such unit. Any bread dumped ontothe sorting table 10 in this manner may subsequently be recovered andfed into the slicing "and wrapping v units 64*to' 66 by theoperator'sthereof."

The foregoing completesfa general considerationjof an installationincorporating the distributingapparatus' 68 of the invention and thelatter will now be considere'd'in more detailwi th particular referenceto 'Fig."6 of the drawings. Referring thereto, the selectivedistributing apparatus 60 includes a series of unloading or dumpingdevices TI, 12 and 13 'respectively corere'sponding'to thecrossconveyors'fil, 62 andq63 and spaced apart along thelowermosthorizontal run of the cooling conveyor 29, each dumpingdevicebeing located ahead of or upstream from the corresponding crossconveyor so-that loaves of bread dumped thereby may fall onto aninbecome a'pparent the angles at which the cam follower bars 8;9 are setdetermine the extent to clined chuteleading to such crossconveyor. The

inclined chutes associated with the dumping'de vices ll to 13 andleading to the cross conveyors 6i to" 63 are respectively identified bythe v numerals1'1', 18 and19.

Thedumping devices 1| to 13 are adapted to beengaged by the coolingtrays 53 to rotate them into their unloading positions so'as to dump thebread therefrom onto the chutes 11' to Heading tothe cross conveyors 8|to 63 as will be described in more detail subsequently. For a reasonwhich will be discussed hereinafter, the first two dumping devices inthe series. i. e., the dumping devices H and 12, are movable betweenextended positions wherein they are engageable by the cooling trays andare operative to rotate them into their unloading positions, andretracted positions wherein they are not engageable by the cooling traysand are inoperative to rotate them into their unloading positions. Thethird dumping device 13 111 the series is permanently disposed in thepath'of the cooling trays 53 so that it isengageablefby all-.of them androtates all of them into their unloading positions, irrespective ofwhether theloaves of breadhave been dumped therefrom by one of thepreceding dumping devices in the series. As will be discussed in moredetail hereinafter, the movable devices 1| and" may be actuatedselectively to control the distribution of bread. to theslicing andwrapping units64 to66. j v H 'I'he movable dumping devices 1| and 12respectively include arms BI and 82 which are piv-' ot allyconnected .tothe frame of. the apparatus at 83 and 84 so that these devices arerotatable.

betweentheir extended and retracted pos'itions.

I In;'li' ig. 6 of the'drawings, the durn'ping device. 'll l'is shown inits retracted .or inoperative p051 tionfwherein it is .out of. the pathof the cooling trays 53, and the dumpin devicej1Z-is shown in; itsextended or operative position wherein itv is' in the path of thecoolingjtraysl iiiland is adapted to be engaged thereby to rotate theminto their unloading positions. In Fig.8 0f the. draw.- ings, thedumpingdevice 12 'is shown inits extended position in solid lines and inits retracted position in phantom. The actuating means for extending andretracting themovable dumping devices 11 and 12 will be, consideredmoreder. tail hereinafter.

" Except for thefact that the dumping devices TIE land .12 aremovableand the dumping device 13 is fixed, these'devices are allidentical andonly.

thedevice 12 will be consideredlin detail. QRefer-g ring particularly toFig. 8 .of the drawings; the... dumping device 12 includes a pair of camrollers. 81and 88 which are carried by the arm 82 and.

which are spaced apart h riz ta y therealong when the-device '12 is inits extended position."

which; the trays 53 are rotated by the dumping devicesl to 13. V

Considering the operation of the dumping device 12 with continuedreference to Fig. 8 of the drawings), when the dumping device 12 is inits extended position, the earn rollers 81 and 88 are in the pathiofthecam follower bars 89 and are lo'cated below the horizontal'axes ofrotation of thejcooling trays 5'3. Thus, when the cam fol; lowerlbartfl-ona particular cooling tray 53 en gagesthe'first cam roller 81of the dumping device 12 that cooling tray is rotated into its unloadingposition, as shown in Fig. 8 of the drawi'ngfs, to dump the loaves ofbread carried thereby onto the chute 18 leading to the cross conveyor62. Because of the horizontal spacing between the first cam roller81fand the second cam roller 88, when the cam follower bar 89 on thecooling tray 53 under consideration disengages the first cam roller, thetraytends to return to its upright position under the action of gravitywith the result that its cam follower bar strikes the second cam roller.Subsequently,the second cam roller 8,8"retur'ns the tray to its'unloadin g' position, and,

after disengaging the second cam roller, the tray its unloading positionby the second cam roller 88. As will be apparent, the magnitude of thejarring force may be varied by varying the spacing between the camrollers 81 and 88.

Although each'of the dumping devices 1! to 13 has beendescribedasincluding a pair of cam rollers "81 and 88 on one side of the coolingconveyor 29, it will be understood that such cam rollers may-be providedon both sides of the 0001- ing coiiveyor so as to act on both ends ofeach cooling tray 53. In such case, each coolingtray is provided with apair of cam follower bars 89 respectively mounted on the end wall 58thereof, a's-in'dic'ated in Fig. 5 of the drawings. Such a dualarrangement of camrollers 81 and 88 for each of the dumping devices isindicated in Fig.

7f ofthe drawings. I

Continuing to refer particularly to Fig. 6 of the'draw'ings, theselective distributing apparatus I sameness an actuating means 'forperiodical ly moving thedumping'devices 1| and 12 from their respectiveretracted positions to their extendedpositions and'back to theirretracted positions, the frequency-of suchmovement being variable fto'coh'trohthe distribution of re to the" slicing and wrapping units" 64to 86 as will be discussed in more detail hereinaften Also, one or theother of the dumping devices Hanan, or, in some instances, both, mayberendered inoperative to control the distribution of bread to thevarious units, the manner in which this is accomplished also beingdiscussed in more detail hereinafter.

Considering the actuating means 95 in more detail, it includes anactuator 96 and linkage means 91 and 93 respectively connecting theactuator to the dumping devices II and I2, each linkage means includingengageable and disengageable elements for rendering the dumping devicecontrolled thereby operative or inoperative as will be discussed in moredetail hereinafter. The actuator 96 includes an electric inotor'99 whichdrives a shaft I through a chain IN, the shaft I00 carrying a two-lobedcam I02 each lobe of which is adapted to engage and open a switch I03 inseries with the motor 99, the two lobes of the cam being diametricallyopposite. As will be apparent, the motor 99 will drive the shaft I00one-half of a revolution at a time with this arrangement, the reason forsuch step-bystep rotation of the shaft I00 being considered in detailhereinafter.

Fixed on the shaft I00 is a crank I06 having rods I 0'! and I08pivotally connected thereto, the latter respectively forming parts ofthe linkage means 91 and 93. The rods I01 and I08 respectively extendinto tubes I09 and H0, the former being pivotally connected to a crankIII which is rotatably mounted on the frame of the distributingapparatus. Pivotally connected at one end to the crank III is a'linkIIZwhich is pivotally connected at its other'end to one arm of a bellcrank I I3 rotatably mounted on the frame of the distributing apparatus.Pivotally connected to the other arm of the bell crank H3 is a link H4which is also pivotally connected to the arm 0I of the dumping device'II." As will be apparent, reciprocatory movement of the tube I09 will,through the foregoing linkage, rotate the dumping device 'II between itsextended and retracted positions.

In a similar manner, the tube IIO is pivotally connected to one arm of abell crank II 8 which is rotatably mounted on the frame of theapparatus, the other arm of the bell crank being pivotally connected tothe arm 02 of the dumping device l2 through a link I I9. Thus,reciprocatory movement of the tube IIIl results in rotational movementof the dumping device 12 between its extended and retracted positions. a1

Referring particularly toFig. 9 of the draw ings, it will be noted thatas long as the rod I08 and the tube IIO are disengaged, relativetelescoping movement thereof can occur so that the linkage means 98 willnot communicate rotary motion of the crank I06 to the dumping device '12with the result that this dumping device will remain in its retracted orinoperative position. In order to reduce friction during such relativetelescoping movement of the rod I08 and the tube IIO, the tube isprovided with standards I22 and I23 respectively carrying paired rollersI24 and I25 which extend through cutouts in the tube into engagementwith the rod. Thus, the rod I08 and the tube H0 are connected forrelative telescoping movement through the paired rollers I24 and I25.

In order to engage the rod I08 and the tube I I0 so as to render thedumping device I2 operative, the tube IIO carries a transverse tubularguide I29 for a latch I30 which is movable in the id i em an at p e e tn sho n i Fig. 9 of the drawings, wherein it extends into and preferablythrough the tube IIO, to a retracted position, wherein it is withdrawnfrom the tube, the latch being provided with notches I3! and I32.respectively adapted to receive a spring pressed detent I33 for holdingthe latch in its extended and retracted positions. As will be apparent,when the latch I30 is in its extended position, it'prevents movement ofthe rod I00 through the tube IIO toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 9,so that rotary motion of the crank I06 is communicated to the dumpingdevice I2 through the linkage means 98 to move this dumping device fromits retracted position to its extended position. However, when the latchI30 is withdrawn from the tube H0 into its retracted position, the tubeI03 and the rod III] are dis.- engaged and may telescope freely so thatthe rotary motion of the crank I03 is not communicated to the dumpingdevice 72, whereupon the latter remains in its retracted position duringrotation of the crank. The position of the latch I30 may be controlledby the operator of the selective distributing apparatus 00 in a mannerabout to be described.

The latch I30 carries a pin I35 which is movable in slots I36 in thetubular guide I29, a pair of links I31 being pivotally connected to thelatch by means of the pin I35, as best shown in Fig. 11 of the drawings.The links I3! are pivotally connected to one end of a lever I38 which ispivotally connected intermediate its ends to the standard I23 on thetube IIO. Pivotally connected to the opposite end of the lever I38 is amovable core electromagnet I39 and pivotally connected to the leverintermediate the standard I23 and'the links I3! is another electromagnetI40, the electromagnets being mounted in a housing Hall which issuitably connected to the tube IIO. As will be apparent, if theelectromagnet I39 is energized, the lever I38 will be rotated so as tocause the links I3! to move the latch I30 into its extended position toengage thev rod I08 and the tube H0 and, if the electromagnet I40 isenergized, the latch will be moved to its retracted position todisengage the rod and the tube. Energization of the electromagnets I39and I40 is controlled manually by the operator in a manner to bedescribed hereinafter in connection with the schematic wiring diagram ofFig. 14 of the drawings.

The linkage means 91 connecting the dumping device TI to the crank I06includes a similar latch I44 for, engaging and disengaging the rod I01and the tube I09, and includes electromagnets I45 and I46 for operatingthe latch I44 in substantially the same manner. As will be apparent,energization of the electromagnet I45 will produce retraction of thelatch I44 to disengage the rod I01 and the tube I09, and energization ofthe electromagnet I46 will produce extension of the latch I44 to engagethe rod I07 and the tube I09.

It will be apparent that, with the foregoing construction, if no breadis to be delivered to the slicing and wrapping unit 64, this may beaccomplished by energizing the electromagnet I45 so as to retract thelatch I44, thereby disengaging the rod I01 and the tube I09 to preventmovement of the dumping device 'II into its extended position by thecrank I06 of the actuator 96. Similarly, if no bread is to be deliveredto the slicing and wrapping unit 65, the electromagnet I40 may beenergized to retract the latch, I30,

thereby disengaging the rod-I 08.-and the tube I Ill so as to preventmovement of the dumping device 72 into its extended position bythe'crank I06. Considering the operation of the actuating means 95 as awhole, it will be apparent from Fig. 6 of the drawings that as the motor99 rotates theshaft I5I} throughi one-half of i a revolution under thecontrol of the Switch I03, one of the movable dumpingdevices II and. 2will be moved from its retracted position to its extended position tointercept and dump one ofthe cooling trays 53 and the other will bemoved from its extended position to its retracted position after havingdumped another of the cooling trays, assuming-that both of these dumpingdevices are connected to the actuator 96 through the linkage means Gland88 in the manner hereinbefore described. During the next one-halfrevolution of the shaft IIlIl, the dumping devicewhich Was extendedduring the preceding one-half revolution will be retracted andthedumping device which was retracted during, the preceding .onehalfrevolution'will be extended. As willbe ap parent, it isgnecessary forthe actuatorilfi to operate the dumping devices. and 12 in timedrelation with the cooling conveyor 29 andthe manner in which this isaccomplished will now be considered. Y Referring to Fig. 3and-particularly to Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings, theselective'distributing apparatus 60 includes a control means I50 for regulatingthe frequency'of energization of the motor 99 of the actuating means95." The control means I5I] includes a cam; I5I.whi ch is employed whendistribution of ,bread between only two of the slicing and wrappingunits64 to-66 is desired, this cam beingfixed on oneof'the shafts 36 of .thecooling conveyor 29 -sothat therotatiOnal speed of this cam-is directlyproportionalto the linear speedof the cooling .tray s-53.f The cam I5Iis provided with notches I52 which areispac'ed apart circumferentiallyof v the cam v equal-distances proportional to the spacin of .thecooling trays '53, the latter; being spaced apart swarm tances. Thus,the frequencyofmovementloftlie notches I52 past a given point adjacentthe periphery of the cam I 5 I is equal to'the frequency of movement ofthe coolingtrays 53'past agi ven point adjacent the cooling conveyor'?5..}fIn the particular construction illustrated, ,the spacin of thecooling trays 53 is so related-to thediamtr of the sprocket 35 ptheshaft 3Bfca'r'rying' .the

cam II that one revolutionof theshaftlm oves a given cooling tray adistance equal to ffoui times the tray spacing, Accordingly, with'fthisconstruction, it is necessary to provide the cam I5I with four of the--n otches I52. "Itwill be understood, however, thattheinvention ,is;not limited to any particularnumber of notches for the cam I5I sincethe number required depends on the relationship discussed above..-

Mounted adjacent the-cam I5I,is,.a' which is connectedj in series withthe nio 1",99 and in parallel with theswitch]fl3fandiiwhich is adaptedto be closed ,to energifie the motor wh nunder the control of the camfl5l'; theffrequency of energization of the mo'torbeingequal to thefrequency of movementTo'f .Tthcooling trays15 3 past a-point adjacentthe cooling conveyor29 since, as hereinbefore"discussed; the fre uencysit-mov me t QU I he 45': ii he f cast mini in rease igss el'iigerraces.-

hereinafter.

switch I53. .As previously pointed out, the twolobed cam I82 opens theswitch IE3 after each one-half revolution of the shaft Iilil so as todeenergize the motor. Thus, foreach closure of the switch I53 by thenotches I52 in the cam I5I, the motor 99 rotatesthe shaft IIll! throughone-half of a revolution.

@As previously indicated, the cam I 5I of the control means, I isemployed when distribution of bread to only two of the wrapping andslicing units tifi to isidesired, the manner in which this isaccomplished being considered .in more detail The control means I 58also includes a cam I51, which is employed when it is desired todistribute breadto all three of the slicing and wrapping units, the camI5? being driven in timed relation with the cam I5I by a chain I58trained around sprockets I59 and ISO respectively'connected to the camsI5I and I51. As willbecome apparent, it isnecessary for the cam i51torotate 'at a speed equal to two-thirds'of the speedy of the receive aroller I63 of a switch I54 to closethis switch. As will be discussed inmore detail hereinafter, the switch I 84 is connected in series withthe-motors?) and in parallel with the switch I53 controlled by the camI'5Lmeans being provided in the electrical circuit for permitting theswitches I 53 and I6 5 to be used selectively to control the motor fleaswill be discussed in more detail hereinafter. The notches IBI and I62are honuni-formly spaced, as best shown in Fig. 13

"of the drawings. With the particular illustrative '9 it ts evera rollerI54 on-the switch drops into one'of construction under consideration, itis necessary for the notch I'6 2 to be spaced 120 from the notch Nil 1in the clockwise direction, "as viewed in F1g. 13, and to be spaced240from the notch I BI in the counterclockwise direction. The reason forthis relationship will become apparent during consideration of theoperation of the selective distributing apparatus 69.

Thus,'with the foregoing construction, the frequency of energization ofthe motor $9 under the control of the cam I5Twill be equal to one-thirdof the frequency of movementof the cooling 'trays 53 past a given point,but willbe irregular because of the nonuniform spacing of the notches I6 I a1 1dI;6 2. is the case when the motor .99 is controlled by the camI5I, the'in0tor will rotate theshaft E one-half of a revolution eachtime the-cam I51 closes the switch I64, the'rotation of the shaft'Hitbeing limited'toj one-half of a revolution' for' each 'closure ofthe" switch Ifit by the two lobed cam 162' in the manner herein- "beforediscus'sed'f- Referring now of Fig. 14 of the drawings, it

will'bes'ee'nthat the switch I03 controlled by the two-lobed cam I02 andthe switches I53 and IE4 respectively controlledby the cams I5I and IE1are all connected in series with the motor 99 and infparallel with eachother so that the motor is energized when anyone of these. switches is'o'sed. Howeventhe switches I 53 and I64 are .13 of thelt av's iwa d med byt do ieell and all of the trays 532) are dumped by the de- 7 Thus,it will be apparent t at withthe conditions hereinbefore outlined, thebread carried by alternate trays 53 will bedeliveredtothe s1ic ingandwrapping unit 64 and thebread carried by the i n n ravsrwi bedsli c eswee Slicing v nm n t BAswi p as: parent, the dumping device I3, beingperrrla nently disposed in the path of the-cam follower bars 89;on thetrays 53, will rotateall of the trays i to t ei adi .p i nab e n dreadwill b liv red to theslie neand wra ni r egnit 66, since; all of thetrays will have been-:dumped previous by e d vices. and. 7,2 1 -:1j

Continuing to consider the operation of the distributing apparatusfillunder the control o f the cam I5I, it will now be assumed thatthebreadcarried by the trays 53 is to be delivered to the slicing andwrapping units;65 ;,and j66, with none of the bread going to the s ines,In order to accomplish this, the operator sets the selector switch I8flin theposition shown in broken lines in; Fig. 14 of the drawings so asto rgize the e e roma ne ic l 4, and 1. gize theelectrom e et 4 the y-rra t n the. latch ld lv'and disconnectin the dum i device ,II from theactuator 96; Thus, 'the I dumping device II will remainin its retractedposition; Under u these conditions, the apparatus will operate insubstantially the same manner as before except that the trays 53a,identi-e 1 tied in Fig. 6 of the drawings will notice dumped by thedevice II, the trays 53b continuing-to dumped. by the device II, thetrays 53b continuing to be dumped by vthe device 12, v,Consequently,'since the fixed dumping device mautomatically rotates, allof the trays into their unloading positions, the bread carried by thetrays 53a will be dumped.- onto the chute I9 associated with the crossconveyor 63 leading-to the third slicing-and wrapping unit 66. Thus, thebread carried by the cooling conveyor 29 will be distributed to theslicing and wrapping units 65 and 66. r

The bread may be distributed between the slicing and wrapping units I54and 66 in a similar manner by setting the selector switch I90 in theposition shown in brokenlines l4 df thedrawings with the selector switch"IBIII-fs'et inthe position shown in solid. lines thereinf It is thoughtthat the operation .of the apparatus under such, conditions will beapparentland thus it will'not' be described;

It will be noted that if it is desired to de- I liver all'ythe bread tothe slicing and wrapping unit 66 for anyreason, this maybe accomplishedby disconnecting both of the dumping devices 1| and I2 from the actuator96. In some instances, this alternative mode of operation may bedesired, as in the case of a breakdown of both the slicing and wrappingunits 64 and 65. I

The operation of the distributing apparatus 60 under the control of thecam I51 will now be considered. As previously pointed out, the apparatusmay be operated under the control of the cam I5! to distribute the breadamong all 7 three of the slicing and wrapping units 64 to 66.

In order to place the apparatus 60 under the control of the cam I5I, itis merely necessary for the operator to set the selector switch I10inthe position shown in broken lines in Fig. 14 of the drawings, therebytaking the switch I53 controlled by the cam I5I out of the circuit andswitch [03 as hereinbef orediscussed .to establish 314 placing theswitch I64 controlled by thecam I5Iinthe circuit. In order to obtaindistribution of bread to allthree of the units to 66, it is alsonecessary for the selector switches I and; I to be in the positionsshown in solid lines II l EIg' ItOI the drawings. v It will now beassumed that the roller I63 on theswitch I64 enters the notch IeI'in thecam I57, thereby energizingthe motor 99. Subsequent1y, th etwo-lobed'pam Hi2 disen'gagesthe an alternative current pathto the motorso that the'switch Ifigi n'eeds be closed only momentarily. Also,;thecam I82 opens the switch I03 at the end or one-half or a revolution ofthe shaft III!) as before. Y r

,It will be assumed that during the one-half revolution of the shaft Illllj resulting from closure of the switch I 64 bythe notch, IEI, thedumpin device I,I;;is. moved into its extended positionand the dumpingdevice V2 is moved into its retracted position. Because ofthe fact thatthe notch IBZ is spaced from the notch I6! in the clockwise direction asviewed in Figll l of the drawings, instead of the 90 spacing employedfor the notches" I52 in the cam I5I,and because of the fact that therotational speed of the cam I5? is only two-thirds that of'the cam I5I,the; dumping device II will remain extended for a time interval equal totwice that encountered during the operation of e the apparatus underthecontrol of the cam I 5 I. In other words, the dumping device II willremain extended for a sufficient length of time to rotate two of thecooling trays 53. into their'unloading positions, the bread dumped fromsuch trays falling onto the cross conveyor BI leading to the slicin andwrapping units 64. After two of the cooling trays 53 have been dumped bythe device II in the foregoing manner, the cam I51 rotates into aposition suchthat the roller I63 onlthe switch I55 dropsinto the notchI62, thereby energizing the motor- 99 for-another one-half revolution ofvthe shaft I00. During this second one-half revolution of the shaft I00,the dumping device II is retracted and the dumping device I2 isextended, Again because'of the fact that the rotational speed of the camI51 is only two-thirds that of the cam I5 I and because of the fact thatthecam I51 must rotate through 240 to cause the roller, I63 on theswitchI54 to re-enter the notch .I6I, the dumpin device I2 will remainextended for a length oftime sufiicient to rotate four of the coolingtrays ,53;into their unloading positions. However, twozof these fourtrays .will have been dumped previously by the dumping device lI so that1thecontents ofon1y twoof thei'fountraysadumped; y the device 32 p-willbe delivered to the second slicing and wrapping unit 65.

Since the dumping device I2 remains extended while four cooling traysmove therepast, it follows that the first dumping device II will remainretracted while four loaded cooling trays pass it. Two of the loadedcooling trays 53 escapin the dumping device II are intercepted anddumped by the device I2, along with the two empty'trays previouslydumped by the device II. Thus, out of each series of six cooling traysentering the distributing apparatus 60, two loaded trays are dumped bythe device II and two loaded and two empty trays are dumped by thedevice E2, the remaining loaded pair going on to the fixed dumpingdevice I3. Since the latter automatically rotates all of the trays intotheir aerate l3 unloading positions, the loaded pair out of 'each groupof six reachingthe device 13 is dumped thereby to supply the thirdslicin and wrapping unit 68. v V p Thus, when the distributing apparatus60 is operated under the contro'lof the cam 151, each of the slicing andwrapping units G4 to 66 is supplied with the loaves of bread carriedbyonethird of the cooling trays.

It will be apparent that, if desired 'for any reason, an unequaldistribution of bread to two of the slicing andwrapping units 64 to (5'6may be obtained with the apparatus operating under the control of thecam I51. For example, if the dumping device H is disconnected from theactuator 85, the contents of two-thirds of the trays will be deliveredtounit 65 by the dumping device 12 and the contents of the remainingonethird of the trays will be delivered to the unit 66 by the dumpingdevice 13. Similarly, if the dumpin device 12 is disconnectedfrom theactuator, the contents of one-third of the trays will go to the firstslicing and wrapping unit '64 and the contents of the remainingtwo-thirds of the trays will go to the unit 66. g

It will be understood that although we have disclosed a specificrelationship between the elements of the control means I50 and betweenthe contro1 means and the cooling conveyor 29 which is applicable to theparticular exemplary 'in'stallation illustrated, differentrelaticnshipsmay be required for other installations. For example, ifthe number of slicing and wrapping units is increased, a differentrelationship will be necessary. As another example, if the relationshipbetween the spacing of the cooling trays 53 and the diameter of thecooling conveyor sprockets 35 is varied from that hereinbeforediscussed, a different number of notches in the cam l5! will berequired. I v

It will thus be apparent that our invention provides an extremelyflexible selective distributing apparatus which maybe employed todeliver articles in variable proportions to different destinations andthat thisma'y be accomplished by the manipulation of only a few "simplecon trcls. Although wehave disclosed an exemplary embodimentof'the'inventionffor illustrative purposes and in connection with aspecific installation, it will be understood that various changes,modifications and substitutions may be-incorporated in the embodimentdisclosed and that such an embodiment may be incorporated in otherinstallations, all without departing from the spirit of the invention-asset forth'in the 'appended claims. I

We claim as our'i'nventio'n:

1. 'In an apparatus of the "character described,

the combination of acam device movable between extended and retracted'positionsrmeans comprising an actuator and linkage means con nectingsaid actuator to said cam device for moving "said cam device betweensaid extended and retracted positions, said linkage means comprising atube and a rod reciprocablein said tube; and manually controlled meansfor latch ing said rod and said tube together to prevent relativetelescoping movement thereof, said latching'means comprising a leverpivotally connected to said tube at a first point on said lever, a latchpivotally connected to said lever at a second point 'on'said lever, anda pair of electromagnets respectively pivotally connected to saidleverat points on opposite sides of said first-point.

'2. 'In a distributing apparatus, the combination of; a conveyorcomprising a plurality of receptacles respectively rotatable intounloading positions; a tripping device movable between anextended-position wherein it is disposed in the path of [saidreceptacles and is engageable thereby to rotate said receptacles intotheir respective un loading positions'and a retracted position whereinit is out of said path and not engageable by said'receptacles; anactuator including a crank and an electric motor; means operativelyconnected to and driven by said conveyor for periodically energizingsaid electric motor at a frequency proportional to the speed 'of saidconveyor; means for deenergizing said electric motor after it hasrotated said crank through a part of a revolution; and means connectingsaid tripping device to said crank.

3. An apparatuses defined inclaim 2 wherein the means last definedincludes: "a connecting element connected to said crank; anotherconnecting element connected to said tripping device and operativelyengageable with the connecting element first mentioned; and manuallycontrolled meansior operatively engaging said connecting elements.

HERBERT L. GLAZE. ROBERT C. BELTZ.

lteierences Cited in the l ne of this patent UNITED STATES PA'TENTS

